5 Super things to watch

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2012, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signals at the line of scrimmage against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. If Joe Namath played for either of the Super Bowl coaches, he would have shown up with duct tape over his mouth. Yes, it's been that kind of week leading up to the Giants-Patriots NFL title game: See no evil, hear no evil and definitely speak no evil. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
— AP

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2012, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signals at the line of scrimmage against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. If Joe Namath played for either of the Super Bowl coaches, he would have shown up with duct tape over his mouth. Yes, it's been that kind of week leading up to the Giants-Patriots NFL title game: See no evil, hear no evil and definitely speak no evil. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
/ AP

There is not a defensive line like that of the New York Giants — in its ability to win one-on-one battles and in its various configurations, which at times includes four defensive ends in a “NASCAR” formation. Jason Pierre-Paul was fourth in the league with 16½ sacks, and Osi Umenyiora had nine in nine games. In all, the primary six-man rotation of linemen had 41½ of the Giants’ 48 sacks in the regular season, and it has 6½ of the team’s nine sacks in three postseason games. Further, their ability to harass quarterbacks with just four players has made the Giants defense, as healthy as it’s been all season, more effective in pass coverage in the playoffs. The line was the difference in the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII victory over New England and might well be again in XLVI. They have accounted for eight sacks and 40 pressures in the postseason, and they have not been shy about saying they can, have to and will get after Tom Brady.

2 -- Terrific Trio

Giants receivers Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham combined for 197 receptions for 3,251 yards and 20 touchdowns. These guys — especially Cruz, who averaged an astonishing 7.4 yards after the catch — have a penchant for turning small gains into big ones. Cruz (25) and Nicks (17) had more 20-yard-plus receptions than any duo in the NFL, and Eli Manning throws to his Big Three 58 percent of the time he passes. The receivers make up the second-best group of players on the team, and they will likely give the Patriots (ranked 31st in the league in pass defense) fits. New England, for all its turnover on defense, did have 23 interceptions (tied for second in the league), including four in the fourth quarter of games in which they trailed or led by seven or fewer points. Manning throws a lot of passes into tight spaces, depending on his receivers to be the ones to get the ball.

3 -- Pair of Aces

Brady is going for his fourth Super Bowl victory, which would tie him with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for most ever by a quarterback. Looking to stop him — again — is Manning. Brady, destined for the Hall of Fame about two Super Bowl appearances ago, threw for 5,235 yards with 39 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and it was perhaps not even the second-best year of his career. Manning was better than he’s ever been and came up big in big moments. His 15 fourth-quarter touchdowns were five more than anyone else. The key for the Patriots is allowing Brady time to operate, whereas Manning is not a great scrambler but does some of his best work when having to improvise.